Chapter 27:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis 27
Concise Complete
Isaac sends Esau for venison. (1-5) Rebekah teaches
Jacob to obtain the blessing. (6-17) Jacob, pretending to be Esau, obtains the
blessing. (18-29) Isaac's fear, Esau's importunity. (30-40) Esau threatens
Jacob's life, Rebekah sends Jacob away. (41-46)
Verses 1-5 The
promises of the Messiah, and of the land of Canaan, had come down to Isaac.
Isaac being now about 135 years of age, and his sons about 75, and not duly
considering the Divine word concerning his two sons, that the elder should serve
the younger, resolved to put all the honour and power that were in the promise,
upon Esau his eldest son. We are very apt to take measures rather from our own
reason than from Divine revelation, and thereby often miss our way.
Verses 6-17
Rebekah knew that the blessing was intended for Jacob, and expected he would
have it. But she wronged Isaac by putting a cheat on him; she wronged Jacob by
tempting him to wickedness. She put a stumbling-block in Esau's way, and gave
him a pretext for hatred to Jacob and to religion. All were to be blamed. It was
one of those crooked measures often adopted to further the Divine promises; as
if the end would justify, or excuse wrong means. Thus many have acted wrong,
under the idea of being useful in promoting the cause of Christ. The answer to
all such things is that which God addressed to Abraham, I am God Almighty; walk
before me and be thou perfect. And it was a very rash speech of Rebekah, "Upon
me be thy curse, my son." Christ has borne the curse of the law for all who take
upon them the yoke of the command, the command of the gospel. But it is too
daring for any creature to say, Upon me be thy curse.
Verses 18-29
Jacob, with some difficulty, gained his point, and got the blessing. This
blessing is in very general terms. No mention is made of the distinguishing
mercies in the covenant with Abraham. This might be owing to Isaac having Esau
in his mind, though it was Jacob who was before him. He could not be ignorant
how Esau had despised the best things. Moreover, his attachment to Esau, so as
to disregard the mind of God, must have greatly weakened his own faith in these
things. It might therefore be expected, that leanness would attend his blessing,
agreeing with the state of his mind.
Verses 30-40
When Esau understood that Jacob had got the blessing, he cried with a great and
exceeding bitter cry. The day is coming, when those that now make light of the
blessings of the covenant, and sell their title to spiritual blessings for that
which is of no value, will, in vain, ask urgently for them. Isaac, when made
sensible of the deceit practised on him, trembled exceedingly. Those who follow
the choice of their own affections, rather than the Divine will, get themselves
into perplexity. But he soon recovers, and confirms the blessing he had given to
Jacob, saying, I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed. Those who part with
their wisdom and grace, their faith and a good conscience, for the honours,
wealth, or pleasures of this world, however they feign a zeal for the blessing,
have judged themselves unworthy of it, and their doom shall be accordingly. A
common blessing was bestowed upon Esau. This he desired. Faint desires of
happiness, without right choice of the end, and right use of the means, deceive
many unto their own ruin. Multitudes go to hell with their mouths full of good
wishes. The great difference is, that there is nothing in Esau's blessing which
points at Christ; and without that, the fatness of the earth, and the plunder of
the field, will stand in little stead. Thus Isaac, by faith, blessed both his
sons, according as their lot should be.
Verses 41-46
Esau bore malice to Jacob on account of the blessing he had obtained. Thus he
went in the way of Cain, who slew his brother, because he gained that acceptance
with God of which he had rendered himself unworthy. Esau aimed to prevent Jacob
or his seed from having the dominion, by taking away his life. Men may fret at
God's counsels, but cannot change them. To prevent mischief, Rebekah warned
Jacob of his danger, and advised him to withdraw for his safety. We must not
presume too far upon the wisdom and resolution, even of the most hopeful and
promising children; but care must be taken to keep them out of the way of evil.
When reading this Chapter, we should not fail to observe, that we must not
follow even the best of men further than they act according to the law of God.
We must not do evil that good may come. And though God overruled the bad actions
recorded in this Chapter, to fulfil his purposes, yet we see his judgment of them, in the painful consequences to all the parties concerned. It was the peculiar privilege and advantage of Jacob to convey these spiritual blessings to all nations. The Christ, the Saviour of the world, was to be born of some one family; and Jacob's was preferred to Esau's, out of the good pleasure of
Almighty God, who is certainly the best judge of what is fit, and has an
undoubted right to dispense his favours as he sees proper,
romans 9:12-15.
Chapter 27:
| Calvin
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Revelation Exodus
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
